Tooley best for PSC

One race that doesn’t get too much attention is the one for Public Service commissioner.

It is very important to pay attention to this one especially if you have an electric bill to pay every month.

Ever since Gov. Marc Racicot and his lieutenant governors, Dennis Rehberg and Judy Martz, sang the deregulation of electricity song in Montana back in the 1990s, the work of a Public Service commissioner became even more important for anyone who uses electricity, hence, all of us. Part of a commissioner’s job is discerning how much it is going to cost to fry your bacon and eggs in the morning, and how much it’s going to cost to turn on the air conditioner in the summer or the heat in the winter. After deregulation, the job got even trickier because a commissioner has to balance both the needs of the consumer’s ability to pay and the electric company’s ability to provide reliable service and earn a fair profit.

I’m supporting Chuck Tooley for Public Service commissioner. He got plenty of experience as mayor of Billings dealing with tough issues and has a proven record for being fair. He’s also been a board member of the Montana Electric and Gas Alliance and is well versed in the myriad of issues. As a bonus, he is a nice guy who is smart and knows how to listen and figure out solutions to problems.

Chuck knows the job of commissioner is not a matter of profits before people but involves both people and profits. Being a Public Service commissioner is a balancing act that I think Chuck could walk. Please join me and vote for Chuck Tooley for Public Service commissioner.